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United States Patent |
5,582,208
|
Suzuki
|
December 10, 1996
|
Flow control valve
Abstract
A flow control valve of the present invention includes a valve member
mounted in a valve chamber having an inlet port, through which a fluid
flows into the valve chamber, and an outlet port through which the fluid
flows out of the valve chamber, the valve member being slidable in the
valve chamber in response to a driving force applied from an actuator, and
a valve seat member mounted in the valve chamber in opposed relation to
the valve member, the valve seat member cooperating with the valve member
to control a rate of flow of the fluid. The valve seat member has at least
a first hole formed therein and extending in a direction of driving of the
valve member, a second hole formed therein and extending from an outer
peripheral surface thereof and a third hole which is separated from the
first hole and extends from its surface facing the valve member to said
second hole in a direction of driving of the valve member, the second hole
extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of
driving of the valve member. A gap is provided in the valve chamber, so
that when the valve member is disengaged from the valve seat member, there
are formed a first flow passage, through which the fluid flows from the
inlet port to the outlet port via the first holes, and a second flow
passage through which the fluid flows from the inlet port to the outlet
port via the first, the second and the third holes.
Inventors:
|
Suzuki; Isao (Tokyo, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
MKS Japan, Inc. (Tokyo, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
539744 |
Filed:
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October 5, 1995 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
137/625.33; 137/625.29 |
Intern'l Class: |
F16K 001/34 |
Field of Search: |
137/625.29,625.33
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3219063 | Nov., 1965 | Schumann et al. | 137/625.
|
4666126 | May., 1987 | Tujimura et al.
| |
4679585 | Jul., 1987 | Ewing.
| |
4695034 | Sep., 1987 | Shimizu et al.
| |
5251871 | Oct., 1993 | Suzuki | 137/625.
|
Primary Examiner: Fox; John C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A flow control valve comprising:
a valve member mounted in a valve chamber having an inlet port, through
which a fluid flows into said valve chamber, and an outlet port through
which the fluid flows out of said valve chamber, said valve member being
slidable in said valve chamber in response to a driving force applied from
an actuator; and
a valve seat member mounted in said valve chamber in opposed relation to
said valve member, said valve seat member cooperating with said valve
member to control a rate of flow of the fluid;
wherein said valve seat member has at least a first hole formed
therethrough and extending in a direction of driving of said valve member,
at least a second hole formed therein and extending from an outer
peripheral surface thereof, and a third hole which is separated from said
first hole and extends from its surface facing said valve member to said
second hole in a direction of driving of said valve member, said second
hole extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction
of driving of said valve member; and
wherein a gap is provided in said valve chamber, so that when said valve
member is disengaged from said valve seat member, there are formed a first
flow passage, through which the fluid flows from said inlet port to said
outlet port via said first hole, and a second flow passage through which
the fluid flows from said inlet port to said outlet port via said first,
third and second holes.
2. A flow control valve according to claim 1, in which projections are
formed on the opposing surfaces of said valve member and/or said valve
seat member, said projection interrupting the communication between said
first hole and said third hole in a closed condition of said valve.
3. A flow control valve according to claim 1, in which the surface of said
valve member facing said valve seat member is flat, and said projections
are provided on the surface of said valve seat member facing said valve
member.
4. A flow control valve according to claim 1, in which there is provided a
diaphragm member which includes a diaphragm portion disposed at an
actuator side, and a side wall extending from an outer peripheral portion
of said diaphragm portion, said valve chamber being formed by an internal
space of said diaphragm member.
5. A flow control valve according to claim 1, in which said outlet port is
provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of
driving of said valve member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a flow control valve for controlling
the rate of flow of a gas used, for example, in the manufacture of
semiconductors, and more particularly to a flow control valve suitable for
use in a flow control system employing a piezoelectric actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in flow control valves of the type mentioned, a piezoelectric
actuator has been used since it can finely control the flow rate. However,
a piezoelectric actuator has a drawback in that the stroke is small, and
therefore it has been difficult to obtain a flow control valve having a
compact size and a large flow rate.
Therefore, projections of a complicated shape have heretofore been formed
on a surface of a valve member and a valve seat member so as to achieve a
large flow rate. Flow control valves employing such a construction are
disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure Nos.
2-116071, 5-99349 and 62-24088.
However, these conventional flow control valves have problems that a valve
member and other parts are complicated in construction, that the machining
of these parts into their required configuration is rather difficult, that
a great amount of time is required for their manufacture, and that the
yield rate is low. Besides which, because of the complicated construction
of the valve member and other parts, there has been encountered another
problem that stresses are liable to develop, and therefore the working
life of the valve is rather short, and a precisely closed condition of the
valve can not be obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the above problems of the conventional flow control valves in view, it
is an object of this invention to provide a flow control valve which is
simple in construction, can provide a large flow rate, is simple in
machining, requires less time for manufacture, and can achieve a high
yield rate.
Another object of the invention is to provide a flow control valve which
has a long working life, and can achieve precise closure of the valve.
According to the present invention as defined in claim 1, there is provided
a flow control valve comprising:
a valve member mounted in a valve chamber having an inlet port, through
which a fluid flows into the valve chamber, and an outlet port through
which the fluid flows out of the valve chamber, the valve member being
slidable in response to a driving force applied from an actuator; and
a valve seat member mounted in the valve chamber in opposed relation to the
valve member, the valve seat member cooperating with the valve member to
control a rate of flow of the fluid;
wherein the valve seat member has at least a first hole formed therethrough
and extending in a direction of driving of the valve member, at least a
second hole formed therein and extending from an outer peripheral surface
thereof, and a third hole which is separated from the first hole and
extends from its surface facing the valve member to the second hole in a
direction of driving of the valve member, the second hole extending in a
direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of driving of the
valve member; and
wherein a gap is provided in the valve chamber, so that when the valve
member is disengaged from the valve seat member, there are formed a first
flow passage, through which the fluid flows from the inlet port to the
outlet port via the first hole, and a second flow passage through which
the fluid flows from the inlet port to the outlet port via the first,
third and second holes.
In a flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 2, projections
are formed on the surface of the valve member facing the valve seat
member, the projections interrupting the communication between the first
hole and the second hole in a closed condition of the valve.
In a flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 3, said
surface of the valve member facing the valve seat member is flat, and said
projections are provided on the surface of said valve seat member facing
said valve member.
According to the invention as defined in claim 4, there is provided a flow
control valve comprising:
a valve member mounted in a valve chamber having an inlet port, through
which a fluid flows into the valve chamber, and an outlet port through
which the fluid flows out of the valve chamber, the valve member being
slidable in said valve chamber in response to a driving force applied from
an actuator; and
a valve seat member mounted in the valve chamber in opposed relation to the
valve member, the valve seat member cooperating with the valve member to
control a rate of flow of the fluid;
wherein the valve seat member has at least a through hole formed
therethrough and extending in a direction of driving of the valve member,
and the valve member has at least a through hole formed therethrough and
extending in the direction of driving of the valve member; and
wherein a gap is provided in the valve chamber, so that when the valve
member is disengaged from the valve seat member, there are formed a flow
passage, through which the fluid flows from the inlet port to the outlet
port via the through hole in the valve seat member, and another flow
passage through which the fluid flows from the inlet port to the outlet
port via the through hole in the valve seat member and the through hole in
the valve member.
In a flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 5, projections
are formed on the opposing surfaces of the valve seat member and/or the
valve member, the projections interrupting the communication between the
through hole in the valve seat member and the through hole in the valve
member in a closed condition of the valve.
In a flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 6, there is
provided a diaphragm member which includes a diaphragm portion disposed at
an actuator side, and a side wall extending from an outer peripheral
portion of the diaphragm portion, the valve chamber being formed by an
internal space of the diaphragm member.
In a flow control valve of the invention as claimed in claim 7, the outlet
port is provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
direction of driving of the valve member.
In the flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 1, the valve
seat member has at least a first hole formed therethrough and extending in
the direction of driving of the valve member, at least a second hole
formed therein and extending from the outer peripheral surface thereof,
and a third hole which is separated from the first hole and extends from
its surface facing the valve member to the second hole in a direction of
driving of the valve member, the second hole extending in a direction
substantially perpendicular to the direction of driving of the valve
member. The gap is provided in the valve chamber, so that when the valve
member is disengaged from the valve seat member, there are formed the
first flow passage, through which the fluid flows from the inlet port to
the outlet port via the first hole, and the second flow passage through
which the fluid flows from the inlet port to the outlet port via the
first, third and second holes. With this construction, a large flow rate
can be achieved.
In the flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 2, the
projections are formed on the surface of the valve member facing the valve
seat member. This projections interrupt the communication between the
first hole and the second hole in the closed condition of the valve, and
the fluid flows past this projections when the valve is open. With this
construction, a large flow rate can be achieved.
In the flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 3, the
surface of the valve member facing the valve seat member is flat, and the
projections are provided on the surface of said valve seat member facing
the valve member. Even with this simple construction, a large flow rate
can be achieved.
In the flow control valve as defined in claim 4, the valve seat member has
at least a through hole formed therethrough and extending in the direction
of driving of the valve member, and the valve member has at least a
through hole formed therethrough and extending in the direction of driving
of the valve member. The gap is provided in the valve chamber, so that
when the valve member is disengaged from the valve seat member, there are
formed the flow passage, through which the fluid flows from the inlet port
to the outlet port via the through hole in the valve seat member, and the
other flow passage through which the fluid flows from the inlet port to
the outlet port via the through hole in the valve seat member and the
through holes in the valve member. With this construction, a large flow
rate can be achieved.
In the flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 5 depending
from claim 4, the projections are formed on the opposing surfaces of the
valve seat member and/or the valve member, and the projections interrupt
the communication between the through hole in the valve seat member and
the through hole in the valve member when the valve is closed, and the
fluid flows past this projection when the valve is open. With this
construction, a large flow rate can be achieved.
In the flow control valve of the invention as defined in claim 6, there is
provided the diaphragm member which includes the diaphragm portion
disposed at the actuator side, and the side wall extending from the outer
peripheral portion of the diaphragm portion. In this construction, the
space, defining the valve chamber, can be easily provided by the diaphragm
member.
In the flow control valve of the invention as claimed in claim 7, the
outlet port is provided in the direction substantially perpendicular to
the direction of driving of the valve member. The outer port is thus
provided in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of
the valve member or the valve seat member, so that the fluid can easily
flow out of the outlet port through the outer periphery of the valve
member or the valve seat member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a flow control
valve of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a valve member used in the flow control valve of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the valve member taken along the line
A--A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a valve seat member used in the flow control valve
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the valve seat member taken along the
line B--B of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the valve seat member of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C--C of FIG. 6,
showing a valve chamber in the flow control valve of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an important portion of a second
embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a valve member used in the flow control valve of
FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a valve seat member used in the flow control
valve of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the valve seat member taken along the
line D--D of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E--E of FIG. 10,
showing a valve chamber in the flow control valve of FIG. 8;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an important portion of a third
embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention;
FIG. 14 is a plan view of a valve seat member used in the flow control
valve of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an important portion of a fourth
embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention;
FIG. 16 is a bottom view of a valve member used in the flow control valve
of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a side-elevational view of the valve member of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a plan view of a valve seat member used in the flow control
valve of FIG. 15;
FIG. 19 is a side-elevational view of the valve seat member of FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is an enlarged view showing a valve chamber in the flow control
valve of FIG. 15; and
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of an important portion of a fifth
embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of flow control valves of the present invention will
now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the
same reference numerals denote identical parts, respectively, and repeated
description of the same parts will be omitted.
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention.
In this embodiment, there is used a piezoelectric actuator 14. In the
piezoelectric actuator 14, a piezoelectric stack 13 is housed in a tubular
casing, and is held between upper and lower buffer members 16A and 16B,
and the piezoelectric stack 13 is sealed in the tubular casing by a
diaphragm 12. A steel positioning ball 15 is interposed between a top
surface of an internal chamber of the tubular casing and the upper buffer
member 16A, and holds the piezoelectric stack 13 in a vertical condition.
The size of the outer periphery of the lower buffer member 16B is so
determined that this buffer member 16B is slidable along the tubular
casing. The lower buffer member 16B has a projection formed on a lower
surface thereof, and this projection is held against a central portion of
the diaphragm 12. A pair of hermetic terminals 17 are mounted respectively
at suitable portions of the tubular casing of the piezoelectric actuator
14, and electric power is supplied to the piezoelectric stack 13 through
these terminals 17 and lead wires 18.
A base 1, having a valve chamber formed therein, has an inflow passage 2
and an outflow passage 3 for a fluid. A diaphragm 9 is fixedly secured
through an O-ring guide 7 to an upper surface of the base 1 by bolts 11
mounted in a fixing ring 10. An O-ring 8 is interposed between the
diaphragm 9 and the base 1, and is held in position by the O-ring guide 7.
A screw hole is formed through a central portion of the fixing ring 10, and
a threaded portion 19 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a lower
portion of the tubular casing of the piezoelectric actuator 14. The
piezoelectric actuator 14 is threaded into the screw hole in the fixing
ring 10, and is held in an upstanding condition.
A hole of a cylindrical shape is formed in the upper surface of the base 1
at the central portion thereof, and extends downwardly, this hole defining
the valve chamber. A valve seat member 4 and a valve member 5 are mounted
in this hole. Details of the valve member 5 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
and details of the valve seat member 4 are shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. More
specifically, a projection 35 is formed on an upper surface of the valve
member 5, and is disposed in vertical registry with the projection formed
on the lower surface of the lower buffer member 16B. A lower portion of
the valve member 5 is smaller in diameter than an upper portion thereof,
and because of this diameter difference, a flange 36 is formed on the
valve member 5. A hole or recess 33 of a relatively large area is formed
in a lower or bottom surface of the valve member 5 at a central portion
thereof, and a spring 6 is mounted in this hole 33. A ring-shaped
projection 32 is formed on the lower surface of the valve member 5, and an
inner peripheral surface of this ring-shaped projection 32 defines a
peripheral surface of the hole 33. Another ring-shaped projection 34 is
formed on the lower surface of the valve member 5, and is spaced a
predetermined distance from the ring-shaped projection 32 in surrounding,
concentric relation thereto. A ring-shaped groove 31 is formed between the
two projections 32 and 34. The valve member 5 can be formed from a
disk-shaped plate, in which case an outer peripheral portion of the
disk-shaped plate is cut to form the flange 36, and upper and lower
surfaces of the disk-shaped plate are cut to form the projection 35 and
the ring-shaped projections 32 and 34.
The valve seat member 4 is in the form of a disk-shaped plate, and a lower
end portion of the valve seat member 4 is larger in diameter than the
remainder, that is, an upper portion thereof, so that a flange 23 is
formed on the lower end portion. A lower surface of the valve seat member
4 is slightly hollowed out to provide a hole or recess 25 of a small
depth. A pair of through holes 22 are formed through the valve seat member
4, and extend from the upper surface thereof to a peripheral portion of a
base (upper) surface of the hole 25. Thus, the two through holes 22 extend
in a direction of expansion and contraction (that is, a direction of
driving) of the piezoelectric stack 13. A hole 21 is formed diametrically
through the valve seat member 4, and is open at its opposite ends to the
outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 4, this hole 21
extending in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the pair
of through holes 22. A vertical or axial hole 24 is formed in the upper
surface of the valve seat member 4 at a central portion thereof, and
extends to the hole 21 to communicate therewith. When the valve member 5
and the valve seat member 4 abut against each other in the valve chamber,
the flanges 23 and 36 cooperate with the inner peripheral surface of the
valve chamber to form an annular gap or space 27 as shown in FIG. 1. The
valve seat member 4 can be formed from a disk-shaped plate, in which case
an outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped plate is cut out to form
the flange 23, and three holes are formed from an upper surface of the
disk-shaped plate, and a hole is formed from the outer peripheral surface
of the disk-shaped plate.
In the flow control valve of the above construction, the fluid flows as
shown in FIG. 7. Reference is first made to an open condition of the
valve. The fluid flows through the inflow passage 2 to an inlet port 2A of
the valve chamber, and then reaches a gap between the opposed surfaces of
the valve seat member 4 and the valve member 5 through the hole 25, formed
in the lower surface of the valve seat member 4, and the axially-extending
holes 22. Then, either directly from this gap or after impinging on the
groove 31 opposed to the holes 22, firstly, the fluid flows out of an
outlet port 3A via the annular gap 27, and secondly the fluid reaches the
hole 33 in the lower surface of the valve member 5, and then flows through
the hole 24, formed in the central portion of the valve seat member 4, and
the diametrically-extending hole 21, and then flows out of the outlet port
3A (Part of the fluid may further flow in the annular gap 27).
In this embodiment, the fluid, having arrived at the inlet port 2A, is thus
directed toward the outlet port 3A basically from the two directions, and
this enables the control of a large flow rate. And besides, the two
ring-shaped projections 32 and 34 are formed on the valve member 5, and
the control of the large flow rate can be achieved by providing the simple
configuration by the cutting operation. In the closed condition of the
valve, the two ring-shaped projections 32 and 34 close the through holes
22 and the hole 24 to interrupt the above fluid flow passages.
FIG. 8 shows an important portion of a second embodiment of a flow control
valve of the invention. Those parts (including the fixing ring 10 and so
on) of FIG. 1 disposed above the diaphragm 9 (FIG. 1) are provided on a
diaphragm 9 in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, a valve member 5A (best shown
in FIG. 9) and a valve seat member 4A (best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) are
mounted in a valve chamber in a base 1, and a spring 6A is interposed
between the valve member 5A and the valve seat member 4A.
More specifically, a circular hole 33 of a relatively small diameter with a
closed bottom is formed by cutting in a central portion of a lower surface
of the valve member 5A, and an annular groove 38 is formed in this lower
surface by cutting in such a manner that a ring-shaped projection 37 is
formed between the circular hole 33 and the annular groove 38. The other
portions of the valve member 5A are similar to those of the valve member 5
of the first embodiment.
A through hole 42 is formed axially through a central portion of the valve
seat member 4A from an upper surface thereof, and a hole 41 larger in
diameter than the through hole 42 is further formed in this central
portion to a predetermined length. A pair of holes 43 are formed in
diametrically-opposite portions of an outer peripheral surface of the
valve seat member 4A, and radially extend a predetermined distance toward
the center or axis of the valve seat member 4A. Further, a pair of holes
44 are formed in the upper surface of the valve seat member 4A
perpendicularly to the holes 43, and extend respectively to inner ends of
the pair of holes 43, so that the two holes 44 communicate with the two
holes 43, respectively. A pair of through holes 45 are formed through the
valve seat member 4A, and extend between the upper and lower surfaces
thereof in a direction of expansion and contraction (driving) of the
piezoelectric stack 13, the pair of holes 45 being disposed on a
diametrical line perpendicular to a diametrical line passing through the
pair of holes 44. A lower open end of each of the two holes 45 is disposed
in contiguous relation to a peripheral surface of a hole or recess 25 of a
small depth formed in the lower surface of the valve seat member 4A.
In the flow control valve of this embodiment, a fluid flows as shown in
FIG. 12. Reference is first made to an open condition of the valve. The
fluid flows through an inflow passage 2 to an inlet port 2A of the valve
chamber, and then reaches a gap between the opposed surfaces of the valve
seat member 4A and the valve member 5A through the hole 25, formed in the
lower surface of the valve seat member 4A, and the axially-extending
through holes 45. Then, either directly from this gap or after impinging
on a groove 31 opposed to the through holes 45, firstly, the fluid flows
out of an outlet port 3A via an annular gap 27, and secondly the fluid
passes past a ring-shaped projection 32, formed on the lower surface of
the valve member 5A, to reach the annular groove 38, and then flows along
this annular groove 38, and further flows through the holes 44 and the
radially-extending holes 43 in the valve seat member 4A, and then flows
out from the inlet port 3A. Thirdly, the fluid, having arrived at the
inlet port 2A, flows to the gap between the opposed surfaces of the valve
seat member 4A and the valve member 5A through the hole 42 and the hole 41
(which are disposed immediately above the inlet port 2A), and then passes
the ring-shaped projection 37, and further flows out from the outlet port
3A through the holes 44 and the radially-extending holes 43 in the valve
seat member 4A.
In this embodiment, the fluid, having arrived at the inlet port 2A, is thus
directed toward the outlet port 3A basically from the three directions,
and this enables the control of a large flow rate. And besides, the three
ring-shaped projections 32, 34 and 37 are formed on the valve member 5A,
and the control of the large flow rate can be achieved by providing the
simple configuration by the cutting operation. In the closed condition of
the valve, the two ring-shaped projections 32, 34 and 37 close the through
holes 45, the through hole 42 and the holes 44 to interrupt the above
fluid flow passages.
FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention.
Those parts (including the fixing ring 10 and so on) of FIG. 1 disposed
above the diaphragm 9 (FIG. 1) are provided on a diaphragm 9 in FIG. 13.
In this embodiment, a valve member 5B has a flat lower surface which is
finished, for example, into a mirror surface.
As shown in FIG. 14, a hole 57 is formed diametrically through a valve seat
member 4B, and is open at its opposite ends to an outer peripheral surface
of the valve seat member 4B. A hole 55 is formed axially in an upper
surface of the valve seat member 4B at a central portion thereof, and
extends to the hole 57. A hole or recess 54 of a relatively large diameter
with a closed bottom is formed in the upper surface of the valve seat
member 4B, and a ring-shaped projection 58 is formed on this upper surface
in surrounding relation to the hole 54. Another ring-shaped projection 52
is also formed on the upper surface of the valve seat member 4B, and is
spaced a predetermined distance from the ring-shaped projection 58 in
concentric relation thereto. A flange 51 is formed on the outer peripheral
portion of the valve seat member 4B, and an annular groove 53 is formed
between the two ring-shaped projections 58 and 52. A pair of through holes
56 are formed through the valve seat member 4B in parallel relation to the
axis thereof, and are disposed on a diametrical line perpendicular to the
hole 57, the pair of through holes 56 being open at their upper ends to
the annular groove 53.
In the flow control valve of this embodiment, a fluid flows through an
inflow passage 2 to an inlet port 2A of a valve chamber, and then reaches
a gap between the opposed surfaces of the valve seat member 4B and the
valve member 5B through a hole 25, formed in the lower surface of the
valve seat member 4B, and the axially-extending through holes 56. Then,
from this gap, firstly, the fluid flows out of an outlet port 3A via an
annular gap 27, and secondly the fluid reaches the hole 54 at the central
portion of the valve seat member 4B, and flows into the axially-extending
hole 55, and then flows out of the outlet port 3A via the
diametrically-extending hole 57 (Part of the fluid may further flow along
the annular gap 27).
In this embodiment, the fluid, having arrived at the inlet port 2A, is thus
directed toward the outlet port 3a basically from the two directions, and
this enables the control of a large flow rate. And besides, the lower
surface of the valve member 5B is flat, and therefore the valve member 5B
can be easily machined into the required configuration. The two
ring-shaped projections 52 and 58 are formed on the valve seat member 4B,
and the control of the large flow rate can be achieved by providing the
simple configuration by the cutting operation.
FIG. 15 shows a fourth embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention.
Those parts (including the fixing block 10 and so on) disposed above the
diaphragm 9 (in FIG. 1) are provided on a diaphragm 9 in FIG. 15. In this
embodiment, a valve member 5C (best shown in FIGS. 16 and 17) and a valve
seat member 4C (best shown in FIGS. 18 and 19) are mounted in a valve
chamber in a base 1, and a spring 6A is interposed between the valve
member 5C and the valve seat member 4C.
A lower surface of the valve member 5C is cut at an outer peripheral
portion thereof to form a flange 62, and two concentric, annular grooves
64 and 66 are formed in the lower surface of the valve member 5C by
cutting, and a circular hole 67 of a relatively small diameter with a
closed bottom is formed in a central portion of the lower surface of the
valve member 5C by cutting. A pair of through holes 68 are formed through
the valve member 5C in parallel relation to the axis thereof, and are
disposed on a diametrical line passing through the axis of the valve
member 5C, the pair of through holes 68 being open at their lower ends to
the annular groove 66. A pair of diametrically-opposite portions of the
outer peripheral portion of the disk-shaped valve member 5C are cut off to
provide a pair of notches 61.
A through hole 42 is formed axially through a central portion of the valve
seat member 4C, and also a pair of through holes 71 are formed axially
respectively through diametrically-opposite portions of the outer
peripheral portion of the valve seat member 4C. The through hole 42 and
the pair of through holes 71 are disposed on a common diametrical line
passing through the axis of the valve seat member 4C. A hole 41 larger in
diameter than the through hole 42 is further formed in the central portion
of the upper surface of the valve seat member 4C to a predetermined depth.
The pair of holes 71 are disposed in opposed relation to the annular
groove 64 in the valve member 4C.
In the flow control valve of this embodiment, a fluid flows as shown in
FIG. 20. Reference is first made to an open condition of the valve. The
fluid flows through an inflow passage 2 to an inlet port 2A of the valve
chamber, and further flows to a gap between opposed surfaces of the valve
seat member 4C and the valve member 5C through a hole 25, formed in the
lower surface of the valve seat member 4C, and the axially-extending
through holes 71. From this gap, firstly, the fluid flows out of an outlet
port 3A via an annular gap 27. Secondly the fluid passes past a
ring-shaped projection 65 (formed on the lower surface of the valve member
5C) to reach the holes 68, and further flows to the upper surface of the
valve member 5C, and then flows out of the outlet port 3A via the notches
62 and the annular gap 27. Thirdly, the fluid, having arrived at the inlet
port 2A, flows to the gap between the opposed surfaces of the valve seat
member 4C and the valve member 5C through the hole 42 and the hole 41, and
then passes past a ring-shaped projection 69 (formed on the lower surface
of the valve member 5C) to reach the holes 68, and further flows to the
upper surface of the valve member 5C, and then flows out of the outlet
port 3A via the notches 62 and the annular gap 27.
In this embodiment, the fluid, having arrived at the inlet port 2A, is
directed toward the outlet port 3A basically from the three directions,
and this enables the control of a large flow rate. And besides, the three
ring-shaped projections 63, 65 and 69 are formed on the valve member 5C,
and the control of the large flow rate can be achieved by providing the
simple configuration by the cutting operation. The valve seat member 4C
can be easily machined merely by drilling the axially-extending holes
therein.
FIG. 21 shows a fifth embodiment of a flow control valve of the invention.
Unlike the above embodiments, in this embodiment, an inflow passage 2 and
an outflow passage 3 are merely formed in a base 1E, and any hole serving
as a valve chamber is not formed in the base 1E. A valve chamber is formed
by fixedly mounting a diaphragm member 81 of a tubular shape on an upper
surface of the base 1E. More specifically, the diaphragm member 81 has a
cylindrical tubular shape with a closed top, and includes a diaphragm
portion 84 disposed at an actuator side, and a side or peripheral wall
extending downwardly from an outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm
portion 84 toward the base 1E. An outlet port 3A is formed in an inner
surface of the side wall of the diaphragm member 81, and is disposed in a
direction perpendicular to a direction of driving of a valve member 5. The
outlet port 3A is connected to a discharge passage 3B formed vertically
(FIG. 21) in the side wall of the diaphragm member 81, the discharge
passage 3B extending in vertical registry with an inlet end of the outflow
passage 3 in the base 1E.
An O-ring 83 is interposed between the diaphragm member 81 and the base 1E,
and is held in position by an O-ring guide 82. The valve chamber is formed
by an internal space of the diaphragm member 81, and more strictly the
valve chamber is defined by the diaphragm member 81 and the base 1E. The
valve member 5, a valve seat member 4 and a spring 6, which are identical
respectively to the corresponding parts in the first embodiment, are
mounted in the valve chamber. A fluid flows in the valve chamber in a
manner as described above for the first embodiment. Those parts (including
the fixing ring 10 and so on) of FIG. 1 disposed above the diaphragm 9
(FIG. 1) are provided on the diaphragm member 81 in FIG. 21.
In this embodiment, no hole serving as the valve chamber is formed in the
base 1E, and even in this construction, the valve chamber capable of
providing the required flow passages can be suitably formed by applying
the necessary processings to the diaphragm member 81. Incidentally, any of
the combinations of the valve member and the valve seat described in the
above second to fourth embodiments can be mounted in the valve chamber in
the flow control valve of this embodiment.
In the above embodiments, although the piezoelectric actuator is used, the
present invention can be applied to any other suitable actuator.
As described above, in the flow control valve of the invention as defined
in claim 1, the valve seat member has at least a first hole formed
therethrough and extending in the direction of driving of the valve
member, at least a second hole formed therein and extending from the outer
peripheral surface thereof, and a third hole which is separated from the
first hole and extends from its surface facing the valve member to the
second hole in a direction of driving of the valve member, the second hole
extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of
driving of the valve member. The gap is provided in the valve chamber, so
that when the valve member is disengaged from the valve seat member, there
are formed the first flow passage, through which the fluid flows from the
inlet port to the outlet port via the first hole, and the second flow
passage through which the fluid flows from the inlet port to the outlet
port via the first, third and second holes. With this construction, the
control of the valve having a large flow rate can be achieved. Besides, in
order to form these flow passages, it is only necessary to form the holes
and the gap, and therefore the machining of the parts is easy, and closure
of the valve can be obtained without the need for any complicated
construction, and the working life of the valve is long.
As described above, in the flow control valve of the invention as defined
in claim 2, projections are provided on the opposing surface of the valve
member and/or the valve seat member. In the case that the projections are
provided both on the opposing surfaces of the valve member and the valve
seat member, when the valve is closed and the projections abut against
each other to interrupt the communication between the first hole and the
third hole. In the case that the projections are provided on the surface
of the valve member or the valve seat member, when the valve is closed the
projections abut against the facing surface of the valve member or the
valve seat member to interrupt the communication between the first hole
and the third hole. With this construction, the closure of the valve can
be obtained without the need for any complicated construction, and a large
flow rate can be achieved even in a short stroke of the actuator.
As described above, in a flow control valve of the present invention as
defined in claim 3, the surface of the valve member facing the valve seat
member is flat. Even with this simple construction and with the easy
machining, a large flow rate can be achieved when the valve is open.
As described above, in the flow control valve as defined in claim 4, the
valve seat member has at least a through hole formed therethrough and
extending in the direction of driving of the valve member, and the valve
member has at least a through hole formed therethrough and extending in
the direction of driving of the valve member. The gap is provided in the
valve chamber, so that when the valve member is disengaged from the valve
seat member, there are formed the flow passage, through which the fluid
flows from the inlet port to the outlet port via the through hole in the
valve seat member, and the other flow passage through which the fluid
flows from the inlet port to the outlet port via the through hole in the
valve seat member and the through hole in the valve member. With this
construction, control of the valve having a large flow rate can be
achieved. Besides, the flow passages are provided mainly by forming the
through holes, and therefore the machining of the parts is easy, and
closure of the valve can be obtained without the need for any complicated
construction, and the working life of the valve is long.
As described above, in the flow control valve of the invention as defined
in claim 5 depending from claim 6, the projection are formed on the
opposing surfaces of the valve seat member and/or the valve member, and
the projections interrupt the communication between the through hole in
the valve seat member and the through hole in the valve member when the
valve is closed, and the fluid flows past this projection when the valve
is open. With this simple construction, open and close control of the
valve comprising two flow passages can be achieved.
As described above, in the flow control valve of the invention as defined
in claim 6, there is provided a diaphragm member which includes the
diaphragm portion disposed at the actuator side, and the side wall
extending from the outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm portion. In
this construction, the space defining the valve chamber can be easily
provided by the diaphragm member.
As described above, in the flow control valve of the invention as claimed
in claim 7, the outlet port is provided in the direction substantially
perpendicular to the direction of driving of the valve member. The outer
port is thus provided in the direction perpendicular to the direction of
movement of the valve member or the valve seat member, so that the fluid
can easily flow out of the outlet port through the outer periphery of the
valve member or the valve seat member.
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